Russian Central Bank Files Lawsuit Over EU's Indefinite Asset FreezeLegal Challenge Against EU Asset FreezeBackground of the Asset FreezeMOSCOW, March 3 (Reuters) - Russia's central bank said on Tuesday that it had submitted a claim to the Luxembourg-based General Court of the European Union, challenging a move made in December 2025 to freeze its assets in Europe indefinitely. The central bank estimates that about $300 billion of Russia's sovereign funds have been frozen by Western countries. Alleged Procedural ViolationsIn its statement, the central bank said the freeze was introduced with "serious procedural violations" because it was adopted by majority vote rather than unanimously, as required by EU law. A source close to the central bank said the alleged violations were the focus of the claim. EU's Position and Central Bank's ResponseThe EU document on the freeze, published on December 12, rules out any possibility of legal action by Russia over the decision in EU courts.

Source: Washington Post March 03, 2026 09:45 UTC